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 THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS
How do you prepare for Christmas? For many of us it involves shopping, traveling, decorating, baking, wrapping gifts and sending cards. By the time Christmas day arrives, quite honestly, we’re exhausted!
Others may find this Christmas season a difficult time to get through because they have suffered the loss of a loved one, or are facing illness, unemployment, separation or divorce.
Sometimes schedules and circumstances can make Christmas take on a different meaning, but nothing can change the truth of what it really is:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” ~Luke 2:8-14
Christmas is “good news of great joy.” The simple truth of a Savior being born -- the Messiah, the Long-Awaited One -- to free us from sin and bring us hope. God became man and walked among men.
Let us not become too busy or lose hope this Christmas. Focus this year on your relationship with God, praising Him for His goodness and faithfulness in sending us a Savior.
This year, The Chapel Choir, under the direction of our Music Director, Brian Kieffer, will present a Christmas cantata with songs from The Wonder of Christmas by David Hamilton. (Our schedule of performances and services is listed below.) In the introduction to the cantata, Mr. Hamilton writes, “The Christmas season evokes so many emotions in us -- there is the sense of awe and majesty, the glory and pageantry, the calm reflection, the resounding joy, for some, the sadness of loneliness, and always the quiet assurance of hope.” Christmas is, above all things, a celebration of hope.
May God fill your heart with wonder and hope during this Christmas season.
 “The Wonder of Christmas”
- Christmas Choir Cantata
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Saturday, December 18, at 7:00 p.m.
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Sunday, December 19, at 9:00 & 10:00 a.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Friday, December 24, at 5:30 & 7:00 p.m.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE - DONATE BLOOD
Location: North Canton Community YMCA on Main Street
Date: Thursday, December 30, 2004
Time: 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Sponsored by: The Aultman Blood Center
The Chapel in North Canton is a member of the Aultman Blood Center. Our participation in quarterly bloodmobiles guarantees free blood replacement for every member of our congregation and their immediate family, parents, and parents-in-law. If you are 17 years or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and are healthy, you are eligible to donate. Appointments are not necessary; you may walk in at any time.
Statistically, one in three Americans will need at least one blood transfusion at some point in their lives, but only 5% of Americans that can donate blood actually do! Please do your part to build up our diminishing blood supply, and remember this important point: you can’t contract any disease by giving blood. All needles and blood bags are kept sterile and are used only once. Hope to see you there!
 "PUT IT ALL TOGETHER" - COUPLES RETREAT 2005
This year’s Couples Retreat promises to be an exciting, informative and fun time for couples to get acquainted with an aspect of their marriage they’ve probably never considered. Pastor Mike McCartney will be talking about “genograms” (diagrams of generational events and relationships in your family of origin) and discussing sibling position issues in marriage and family life (did you marry a first-born, middle or baby?). You will come away from the retreat having constructed a genogram of your family of origin, which will help give you a good understanding of present or potential issues in your marriage and family.
Sign up deadline is Sunday, December 19, 2004.
There’s only room for 20 couples, SO HURRY AND SIGN UP TODAY!
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Friday, February 11, 2005 through Saturday, February
12, 2005
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Retreat will be held at The Amish Door Village in Wilmot, Ohio
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$165 covers dinner Friday night, continental breakfast Saturday morning, full sit-down lunch, three meeting sessions, and your room Friday night!
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The first 20 couples to sign up and pay will have their place reserved
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Researching your family of origin is recommended before coming to the retreat. Guidelines will be provided.
WELCOME HOME
Matt Durant has been a missionary with Operation Mobilization (OM) and serving on board the ship MV Doulos for over three years. The Doulos is a huge floating bookstore, conference site and evangelistic outreach ship. It has a fascinating history and unique ministry. If you want to learn more about it and follow its ports of call, visit their web site at
mvdoulos.org.
Over the past three years, Matt has ministered in over 29 ports from the Philippines to South Africa to Turkey to Montenegro, mobilizing people for Christ. Lately his job on the ship has been on the advance line-up team, going ahead several months to prepare for the arrival of the ship to the port.
With this commitment now completed, Matt is looking forward to getting married to fiancée, Jana, in Texas this June. They look forward to whatever doors the Lord will open for them after that. Matt will be sharing his missionary experiences with us in the near future, but meanwhile, please give him a warm welcome home as he “re-enters this world” in early December.
 NEW
CHAPEL BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2005
Trustees -
John Attinello
Bruce Bubp
John Queen*
Deacons
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Rick Anderson
John Bogniard
Paul Casto
Pat Jones
Paul Kiel
Jim Morris
Jeff Walker
Missions
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Pattie Anderson*
Jack Foughty
Tom Maurer
Dave Sommers
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- appointed to complete an unexpired term
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In case of inclement weather, church closings will be announced on WHBC (1480 AM) and WCRF (103.3 FM). If a “level three” warning is in effect, church services are automatically cancelled.
 PROCLAIM YOUR PRAISE
As 2004 draws to a close, it’s a great time to pause and reflect on God’s many gracious blessings and answers to prayer during this past year. In the January newsletter, we would like to share your testimonies of God’s faithfulness to you and your family.
If you
would like to share your praises or answers to prayer, or just share how God is moving in your life, please fill out the section
in the Sunday bulletin and turn it in to the church office by Sunday, December 19, 2004. If you have any questions, please contact Patty Fitler at the church office (330) 494-3419 ext. 302.
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