Christmas Eve Service

Wow! What an amazing Christmas Eve service!

78 degrees at sunset (and what a beautiful sunset) over 3500 people packed into Lowdermilk park and the beaches. The glow of thousands of candles and voices lifting up to the starry sky and singing 'Silent Night.'

Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who helped make this possible. From the trolley greeters to the living nativity to Saint Nicholas to the candle and program crew to the signing to the photographers to the singers and band to the security crew to the chair crew to the...well you get the picture! And what a wonderful article in the Naples Daily News!

Any suggestions for next year? Leave a comment on the blog.

Helping Hands Ministry Update

I just want to say how full my heart is from the generous giving from you during a difficult financial season. Not only did we sell ALL calendars/CD packets which raised $1500 for additional Christmas giving, but also the thousand dollars spent (if not more) through our helping hands ministry and 8000 meals for children through our Haitian mission ministry. And we had families who 'adopted' other families in need and provided trees, food and gifts! Well Gene, where was the money spent? How did we help? Just to list a few...

1. Providing money for steel toed work boots and clothing to help someone start in a new job
2. Two single parent families with children receiving everything they need for Christmas including food and gifts.
3. Numerous families helped with money for mortgage/rent payments during December.
4. Paying for an apartment so a family could be near their new born baby that had to spend time in a Children's Hospital out of town.
5. WAL-MART gift cards
6. PUBLIX gift cards
7. Gas for chemotherapy trips from Naples to Tampa.
8. And lots of food from our food pantry.

And, be sure to ask John & Anne Raker about our successful 'Food In The Fields' program. These are just a few examples. One thing that I have learned is this. Celebration Church truly believes in helping those that are less fortunate or in need. In many of these cases during December, I found myself thinking..."There, but by the Grace of God goes I." So thank you and know that when you help in Christ's name...

"whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, I say unto you, you shall not lose your reward."

Celebration has a Wonderful New Service!

Have you noticed a new face on the stage? And have you also noticed that the movement of her hands are pure poetry? Well this person is Kaye Fleming who is now signing all of the Celebration services for the hearing impaired. Kaye is a teacher and has been doing religious interpreting for 30 years. Kaye is a wonderful example of someone sharing her unique s.h.a.p.e. in ministry at Celebration!

Have You Heard Our Podcasts?

If you are like me, one hour each Sunday is just not enough! I want to hear more, learn more, just get 'more' about Celebration Church! That is why we have 3 weekly podcasts that you can listen to for free. One podcast is each Sunday's message, one podcast is the music of that Sunday AND one podcast called 'Ramblings From Paradise.' This 7-10 minute long weekly podcast is just ramblings from my mind along with Peter Marsh. Needless to say, each rambling podcast is different and never boring. You can listen one of two ways. If you own an ipod, you can subscribe for free and just update it weekly or you can listen directly from the church website.

And remember, at www.celebrationbeachchurch.com you will also find weekly photos (be sure to check out the photos from Christmas Eve) and timely blogs that you can respond to. So learn more and get more from your church. If you are listening, just drop me a note right here on this blog. I would love to hear what you think of the podcasts and anything else on your mind.

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
FOR THE WEEK OF Dec. 21st-27th, 2008

Birthdays
22nd - Philip Cooke
25th - John Glanville
26th - Mary Smith

Anniversaries
23rd - Vernon & Janice Brown
Al & Carol Konigson
24th - Doug & Pam McCree

Then Sings My Soul .... My deepest gratitude and thanks to Pastor Gene, Pastor Gordie and Pastors Sam and Bunny Sewell for making the dream of my ordination service last Sunday a reality. I'd like to express my thanks and appreciation to Pastor Harold Brown and North Naples United Methodist Church for the use of their chapel and fellowship hall. My thanks to Peter Marsh for his wonderful music that added so much to the service.

My appreciation and thanks to Joyce Chesser and all of our marvelous hospitality ladies for the lovely reception following thge service and to Pam Costa and Arlene Thompson for their great photographs, the videographer and recording the service.

I'd like to thank my wonderful church family for the cards, gifts, kind words, love and support you've given me. And a special thank you to those of you who came to witness and participate in my ordination and share my joy. This was truly a family affair and labor of love that I'll carry in my heart forever.

Pastor Lana

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

FOR THE WEEK OF Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2008

Happy Birthday
Nov. 30th - Maureen Aughton

Dec. 1st - Mark Block
Helene deNeergaard
Polly Graziano

3rd - Ron Pendrick

4th - David Bilby
Dean Langdon


Happy Anniversary
Philip & Janice Cooke