‘Tis The Season

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la la la la la

Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la la la la la”

While this is the season to be jolly, many of us can have a hard time finding our fa la la la la’s. Margo and I have many incredible memories of family and friends during the holiday season.  Our best memories include so many of you! However, there are also reminders of loss, difficulty, and hardship that can affect our emotional and spiritual health. Thankfully, God gives us just what we need to have faith and hope rather than holiday blues. 

I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 Voice

Here are three ways to make this a happy, giving, and hopeful season.

A Happy Season: Holiday Celebration Services

I pray that our God, who calls you and gives you perseverance and encouragement, will join all of you together to share one mind according to Jesus the Anointed.

Romans 15:5 Voice

We love our Holiday Celebration Services! They have always been a highlight of our Christmas season. God has built such a great church here with so many incredible people. We are excited this year as we will be having seven different holiday services at six different locations around the Bay Area. https://bacc.cc/holiday/

Each service will have so many different ways to enjoy the holiday season—from holiday treats and hot chocolate to ugly sweaters and pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Of course, no holiday service would be complete without great speaking and sharing from the Bible and Christmas music. On top of all these fun highlights, the best part for me has always been spending extra time with family and friends!  

A Giving Season:  Annual Toy Drive

For sixteen years we have been holding our Toy Drive for foster kids and other children who are in need or often overlooked. We have given over 20,000 toys and gift cards to the children of the Bay Area, and we are excited to see how we can help this year. 

We have developed incredible partnerships with local agencies and organizations that tirelessly serve the children of the Bay Area. We are very privileged to be able to work with these local heroes. Here are the eight agencies we are working with this year.  

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula
• Pacific Clinics (San Jose)
• Oakland Food Works
• Oakland Firefighters Association

• Peace Keepers (Stockton/Modesto)
• A Better Way (East Bay)
• Real Options for City Kids (SF)
• Horizons Unlimited of SF, Inc.

If you’d like to donate a toy online, visit our website to find Amazon wishlists for A Better Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. We are excited to see how your generous hearts will meet so many of these needs.  

A Hopeful Season: Deep Spirituality

Jesus ministered from place to place throughout all of the province of Galilee. He taught in the synagogues, preaching the hope of the kingdom realm and healing every kind of sickness and disease among the people.

Matthew 4:23 TPT

All of the activities and events are great, but there is nothing more important than focusing on Jesus during this time of year. As the Scripture tells us, Jesus taught and preached hope to everyone who heard him. We wanted to highlight a new Bible reading plan from Deep Spirituality called “Season of Hope.” If you sign up, you will receive a month’s worth of devotionals, podcasts, and videos to focus you on what is most important and to help you grow in your walk with God. 

When you sign up, you also get a free gift: an interactive Advent calendar with daily scripture images, videos, and podcast episodes to help bring in the Christmas season with hope and joy. Sign up at https://deepspirituality.com/hope/.

As it is often said, this can be the most wonderful time of the year. We hope these three focuses bring you a season of happiness, giving, and hope! 

Till next week,

Scott and Margo Colvin

South Bay Lead Ministers