On Black Friday my family did something we’d never done before that was so successful it might just become a fixed Christmas tradition for us. Last year I finally threw away our old worn out artificial Christmas tree from our child-rearing years, refusing to repair it any further and deciding then that this year we would get a real tree. So we loaded up the SUVs with parents and children and boyfriend and dogs, and drove down to Cleburne to pick out a “nice” tree from Mainstay Farm. OH, MY! We ended up spending four hours there because we were having so much fun! We perused trees—cut and uncut—meandered through mazes, jumped around on hay bales and played on unusual playground equipment. For a fee, they offer an apple cannon, kiddie zip line, trike races, and a huge ground pillow to jump on. Our dogs met their first sheep and goats. We ate biscuits w/smoked country ham, and later enjoyed ice cream treats around a campfire. Besides all this, our 8’ Fraser Fir cost us a very fair $100. What a memory maker.
Mainstay is part of a growing industry called “agritainment” [from agriculture and entertainment] to entice city folk out to the country to experience things of years gone by. The owners are joyful Christians who want to bless people with meaningful experiences and good products. So wholesome. We highly recommend it! If you want a live tree, grab some kids (your own, grandchildren, extended family, neighbor kids, whatever) and go watch a little old school magic unfold as you explore over and enjoy yourselves in God’s good earth. Merry Christmas.
From My Heart,
Rev. Jeff Garrett

Telling THE CHRISTMAS STORY in Style
12/04, “The Shepherds” – Second Sunday of Advent:
with Medieval Christmas at 4:00pm
12/11, “The Angels” – Third Sunday of Advent:
with Christmas Open Houses from 3:00-6:00pm
12/18, “The Parents” – Fourth Sunday of Advent:
with Music Ministry’s Experience Christmas at 7:00pm
12/19, “The Carols” – (Mon) Christmas Caroling in the community at 7:00pm
12/24, “The Child” – Christmas Eve Candlelight Services at 7:00pm & 11:00pm
12/25, “The Manger” – Christmas Morning Worship: hey, how often do we get to celebrate Jesus’ birth in worship on the very morning?!?
01/01, “The Star” – New Year’s Day worship [it’s seven days later, and yet another holiday Sunday] 01/08, “The Wise Men” – Covenant Renewal on Epiphany Sunday: to commit our year unto the Lord