Braving Sub-Zero Temperatures

This morning, forty-five adults and children braved the sub-zero temperatures to gather for a Continental Breakfast (with tasty treats from Panera Bread) and a traditional "Lessons and Carols" service. The congregation gathered around tables in the beautifully decorated Grand Lobby of the Ozinga Chapel (on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL). Nine individuals offered readings from the Scriptures which, together, retold the Christmas story. After each reading, the congregation, accompanied by six musicians, sang a corresponding Christmas Carol. In between the breakfast and the "Lessons and Carols" service, Pastor Sam Hamstra offered a meditation, inspired by the late A.W. Tozer, called "Getting The WOW Back Into Christmas." Pastor Hamstra reminded the congregation that the most remarkable aspect of Christmas is that God became flesh! He, then, offered this quote from Tozer's book Born After Midnight:

When the heart, on its knees, moves into the awesome presence, and hears with fear and wonder, things not lawful to utter, then the mind falls flat, and words, previously its faithful servants, become weak and totally incapable of telling what the heart hears and sees. In that moment, the worshiper can only cry "Wow." And that simple exclamation becomes more eloquent than learned speech and is dearer, no doubt, to God than oratory.

Below, in the foreground, Kris Jousma & Courtney Schutt enjoy warm fellowship with Jett, Jordan and Dave Jousma,