The arrival of God in those ancient neighborhoods certainly changed them. The sleepy little village of Bethlehem didn’t even know he was there, but they still experienced radical changes. According to Matthew (2:16) when King Herod heard of the new arrival, he ordered the killing of all the children in and around Bethlehem that were two years old or younger. They would have been both an immediate and a long-lasting impact on that neighborhood. When Jesus stepped onto the public stage, he would radically alter that neighborhood as well. When he arrived in Jerusalem for that Passover celebration, he was seen as an unwelcome arrival in the neighborhood who threatened both the authority of the religious leaders and the political stability that Rome so cherished. In fact, every where Jesus went he was the catalyst for all kinds of political, religious, social, and cultural upheaval. Things changed in his wake.

Early Christians, followers of The Way – his way, had the same impact on their neighborhoods. Indeed they changed an entire Empire. They were able to do that, not because they set out with that as their goal. They were able to do that because they believed that somehow the neighborhood-changing Jesus was still alive in them. They lived as his presence in their neighborhoods and they changed those neighborhoods by their presence in them. Somewhere along the line we seem to have lost this sense of the neighborhood-changing Jesus, present in his followers. In us. Our neighborhoods don’t look much different than any other neighborhoods. Nobody gets upset if a Christ-follower moves into their neighborhood – unless he or she wants to start a house church and cause parking problems. What if we reclaimed this idea of us being the presence of Christ dwelling in our neighborhoods? Not to judge and condemn our neighbors, which is how so many of them see us. But to be Christ to them, which is to love them (as we love ourselves) and serve them and offer them a look at what an abundant life looks like. If we did that, do you suppose that we, too, might be neighborhood-changers? I wonder.

We will go on our next Paintball outing on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009. Make plans now to attend. The cost is $25.00 per person and we will leave the church at 9 a.m. and return home between 7 and 8 p.m. Bring a friend and get a $5.00 discount each. Remember permission slips are required for all participants.

Mark it on your new calendar now—our Winter Meadows Farm Retreat. It will take place on Jan. 18-20. Plan your homework accordingly so you can enjoy this fun annual event. The cost of the retreat is $15.00 per person. Reservations and payment are due by January 11. Bring a friend to this event and you will both receive a $5.00 discount.

We will once again help with food distribution and deliver food to families in need on Saturday, January 24. Each student who helps will carry in, sort and count the bulk food that came into the SHARE project in Burke, Virginia on Saturday morning. You will also help distributing food to people who come in to pick up their donations and also to deliver the food to people who are unable to pick up their food. We will work with the same adult team that we worked with in December to help distribute the additional food that is being provided as a result of the wonderful response of the church family to our December mission project. Disciple dollars will be earned by those who help with this task.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Christmas Card delivery mission project. To those who sent cards, to those who delivered cards, to those who sorted cards, to those who donated to the dinners for needy families—you all were the presence of Christ to the families who received food in December. And this is the gift that continues to give as we will be providing food for an additional 20 families (at least) with the additional funds that we collected after the December meals were ordered—remember, we tried to help additional families and there was no food available. Some of you who were away during the holidays may yet receive a Christmas card or two. They will come through the U.S. Mail and should be received this week. Thank you again, for being the presence of Christ, to those who received food, through your generous support of this project.

Our youth trip to NYC was a lot of fun for all who went. Some cards were handed out to the people who were in NYC on December 30, with a scripture verse and a web site to learn more about God. No one gave out all of their cards, but some of us tried. We had a wonderful day in the city and special thanks go to Gerry Sue Young for accompanying us to the city on this extra long day. Also, special thanks go to Larry Crowder 3 (grandson of Verle Turner) for hosting us in his hometown. He was a great help in getting us around the city and lots of fun to be around. He has offered to host us again, so be watching for another trip to the "Big Apple" in the future.

Jan. 13-Youth Missions resumes

Jan. 14-Youth Missions

Jan. 18-20 Meadows Farm Retreat

Jan. 24- SHARE food delivery mission project

The ACCA Child Development Center is also requesting ACCA churches to provide the children with mittens, gloves, hats, socks, and underwear for boys and girls, sizes 4-10. These can be brought to church for delivery, but they should be clearly marked for ACCA CDC so they do not get confused with donations for the Hypothermia Shelter.

UPDATE FROM WINTER HYPOTHERMIA PROGRAM (from Mary Lee Di Spirito): The sheltering program is averaging about twenty-five persons per night. Current needs are for long johns, hats, gloves, underclothes for both males and females, dinner and lunch sacks. The collection of clothing has been very good for coats and hats, but the need continues. (You may continue to bring these items and leave them in the Mission Nook for delivery to the Hypothermia Shelter.)