​"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."  Isaiah 53:4-5  

Remember, there is no resurrection without death.  There is no Easter Sunday morning with the chaos and pain of Friday's events.  There is no redemption without the One who redeemed.  Where would we be without the cross of Friday and the empty tomb of Sunday.

Tomorrow is Good Friday.  Take time to read the account of the crucifixion of Jesus found in John 19.  Then spend some reflecting on the love and compassion of God that drove Him to send His one and only Son to the cross, to die in our place, so that you and I can have eternal life.  Pray this prayer:  "Jesus, quiet my heart that I may ponder what you did on the cross.  Amen".

Join us tomorrow at 6:00pm in the Fireside Room for our Good Friday service.  This special time of reflection will include singing, scripture reading, a brief message and communion. 

See you tomorrow night.

Pastor Doug

Merry Christmas Parkside Family

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more."  Dr. Seuss, from How the Grinch Stole Christmas

For hundreds of years, the world has been in a culture war for ownership of the Christmas season and Christmas Day.  Every year, it's the church vs. the big box retailer and Amazon!  As we approach Christmas Day, I want to provide a different perspective on the possession of Christmas. 

Think about this:  Is our fight over the spirit of Christmas or the Spirit of Christ?  While the spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal.  The spirit of Christmas is sentimental.  The Spirit of Christ is supernatural.  The spirit of Christmas is a human product.  The Spirit of Christ is Immanuel, God with us.  The point is this:  as important as Christmas is to many of us as a holiday, shouldn't it pale in comparison to who Christ is in us every day?!  Something to think about as we approach Christmas Day...and the day after...and the day after that...and...

Christmas Eve @ Calvary Parkside:  Join us at 10:30am for a special collaborative celebration, as we join with the Hispanic, Chinese, Korean churches, and Common Ground, for a multi-cultural Christmas experience.  There will be music, scripture reading, and prayer delivered in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin and English.  We will end our service with the traditional singing of Silent Night as we light candles in anticipation of the birth of Jesus!  Please bring the whole family and don't forget to invite your friends and neighbors.  The morning kicks-off at 10:00am with light snacks, followed by the service at 10:30am.
 
I hope to see you on Sunday!

Pastor Doug

"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 that will cause great joy for all the people".  Luke 2:8-10

It's crazy to think that God did not deliver the good news of the Messiah's birth to priests or prophets or kings.  Rather than issue a formal proclamation from the steps of the temple, God sent an angel to a group of nomadic shepherds.  He chose the least influential individuals to receive the first invitation to meet the savior of the world, (the messiah), Jesus. 

Join us on Sunday at 9:30am, as we continue our series, Portraits of Christmas and light the second candle of Advent: Joy.  This week, we will take a deep dive into this all-to-familiar story found in Luke 2:8-20.  Through the eyes of a group of shepherds, we will gain clarity about the true message of Christmas, who Jesus is, why he came, and what our response should be to such an incredible event.

Welcome the Everett Family:  Plan to stay after the service as we welcome James, Ali, and their kids to Calvary Parkside!  There will be treats and a chance to get to know them better.

Note:  Our Adult Discipleship Class will not meet this Sunday

Christmas Eve at Calvary Parkside:  Make plans now to join us for this year's Christmas Eve service.  Since December 24th falls on a Sunday, we will be joining with the other churches that share our campus for very special Christmas Eve celebration.  This multi-cultural Christmas service will include Christmas music presented in Mandarin, Korean, Spanish and English; scripture reading and prayers in multiple languages; and a time to reflect on the birth of our Savior, Jesus.  Doors will open at 10:00am and the service will begin at 10:30am.  There will be light snacks and drinks available after the service.

See you Sunday!

Doug