Emmanuel

Welcome!

Welcome to Breakthrough Church as tonight we celbrate Emmanuel- God with us

Thanks for coming to our first ever Christmas service at Breakthrough Church!

We hope you enjoy spending this evening with us as we tell the story of Christ’s birth, the most important birth in the history of humanity.

Before we begin I just wanted to give a few announcements

First time please fill out card online or in person

Giving- We are blessed- Three ways to give.

One word has really stuck with me throughout this entire holiday season. Gratitude

Unfortunately sometimes we find ourselves focusing on what we are missing in our lives, but tonight my heart is full of the blessings I have been given.

I truly believe that our works for His kingdom will be rewarded in Heaven, but I don’t think that excuses us from saying thank you down here on earth.

So tonight I want to say thank you to a few people who have blessed me, this church, and these people.

Dale

First and foremost is a man many of you may not know. And that is because he puts in the work before we come and behind the scenes while we are here. Dale

Dale is the facility manager here at Leroy and he is the reason everything just works!

When I went looking for a new facility I was shown three different buildings. I don’t know if I told Dale this, but he is the reason we chose this building.

Two of the buildings I saw were basically exactly the same. There were two differences though....The other building was actually closer to our house, and only one of the facility managers I met made me feel welcome and showed actual excitement for us to join his building. I went home and told Nina how meeting Dale went and she being an FM most of her career expressed how critical and amazing that was.

Dale has been a blessing through all of this and we are so thankful to have you!

Call up Leilah and Victoria

Victoria first: I have known Curtis and Victoria for several years now, and Nina and I have just come to love them especially since starting this church and really getting to know them.

Nina and I had been praying for help with our children’s ministry from the very beginning of this journey long before we even needed one. And on our first Sunday here, God answered our prayers with an amazing woman who has shown such love and commitment for our school age kids.

Present Bag

We also found this sign and it says- READ IT

Now on its own it’s just a really pretty piece of wall art. But for us it is so meaningful. It is the first memory verse that the kids learned including our kids Carlos and Gabriela. Nina was so moved and proud to hear Gaba recite this verse that she cried like a baby.

All relationships start with some type of foundation, and our kids are getting that foundation to grow their relationship with their Father.

Leilah

I have been beyond fortunate to know Leilah since we started at our church down south almost 7 years ago.

I was blessed to have her in my youth group where I saw her blossom into a leader and mighty woman of God. And God blessed me once again when she said yes to becoming our other children’s leader with our pre-k kids. And that includes my daughter, Ella. So I know she’s being challenged! But hearing my 3 year old quote scripture and look at me when I am worried and tell me “you just gotta trust God” shows the love and dedication Leilah has for these kids. We are blessed and so thankful to have her!

I met with these next two ladies to help us put together these gifts for Leilah and Victoria, but little did they know that they were a part of this plan as well!

Jeri and Faith come up

Jeri was a part of our lives LONG before she and her family came to our church. Her mother has taken care of our kids for pretty much 16 years now from Isabel to Carlos and Gaba, to the one and only Ella Grace.

Nina has obviously known the family longer than I and when Jeri started coming to our Thursday services she said she could be such a blessing and help. It was not long at all after, that I saw first hand how great she was. Her ideas, her thoughtfulness, her willingness to help, everything has been beyond amazing. Her help with planning our transition to Sunday and her willingness to get her hands dirty when we started truly made this possible. Oh and all of this while having a brand new baby. Thank you Jeri. We are so thankful for you.

Faith-

As I sat down to write words to describe Faith, too many came to mind. Faith joined us just a couple of months after we started our Thursday night Bible study.

The first night I met Faith I knew she was special and was exactly who we needed. After meeting with her I was certain. She came in like a woman on a mission because she truly was. She got right in and helped with planning, with collecting supplies, with set up, and with running actual events.

She was there for our park outreach, July 4th celebration, School supply giveaway, Thanksgiving. Everything!

She is the first face everyone sees because her kindness just draws you in. I can quite literally say we would not be here if not for Faith. Thank you Faith.

Isabel

Last but certainly not least is someone who I assume has no idea she’s involved......Isabel.

Come on up Isabel

Isabel has literally been with us from day one.

I can not express the gratitude I have for this young woman. From the very beginning she has helped set up, entertain the kids, grab doors, set up signs, tear down, carry equipment.....everything!

So often we look at the pastors and see what they do, but we miss what their families are doing behind them, beside them, with them and for them. I’m sure that Isa wasn’t excited about every Thursday night or now Sunday morning service. I am sure she is not thrilled with the amount of set up and tear down we do now, but you know what. She never complains. She helps and to be completely honest she brings joy to the job. I don’t know if we could do this without her and honestly I do not want to know. But what I do know is I couldn’t imagine a better person and family for that matter to do this with.

As I said before my heart is so full with the blessings God has given me. And one of the greatest is being given the opportunity to call this amazing young woman daughter. Thank you Isabel.

Say Hi To Each Other

Advent Story 1

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Advent Story 2

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Advent Story 3

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Advent Story 4

Angels We Have Heard On High

Advent Story 5

Light of the World

Joy To The World

The Perfect Lamb is Born

Tonight we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. While this is a joyous time to celebrate the faithfulness of God to keep His word to send a savior, we must also remember that Jesus was born with a purpose. To be the unblemished Lamb of God, the sacrifice for all sin.

Why did the shepherds hear the news first? Why were they specifically the shepherds over the flocks of sheep meant for sacrifice? Why was Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes? Clothing used to wrap sacrificial lambs to protect them from harm and keep them pure and clean?

Why were the shepherds told that their sign would be that baby wrapped like the sacrificial lambs?

Because the Lamb of God had come!

And he came for you! And you and you and me and us! He came that we may have life, and freedom.

Christ became man, was born a human by a virgin mother, lived the same life as all of us in perfection. Eventually leading to a cross that He would have to bear and a death He did not earn for what? For us! For you, for me!

If you are sitting there tonight and can say you do not know this Christ that we sang and spoke and watched about, I encourage you to take that first step tonight. Step out and come up and let us pray with you. Don’t let the enemy stop you. Christ’s will for your life is to know Him, accept Him, and live with Him forever.

If anyone comes pray OBVIOUSLY

Before we go tonight I have just one more thing. While the true meaning of this day we call Christmas is Christ, I can’t help but feel such love and gratitude and thankfulness for my family. I have one last song to sing and while I do I want you to come together with your family and just spend a moment realizing the blessings that you have, and realize so much that God has given.

Country Psalm

Merry Christmas everyone! Do not forget there is no service next Sunday. enjoy time with your friends family and your Father.

Please stick around and enjoy some refreshments. Get to know someone you don’t know. Come together and enjoy this family we call church! Be Blessed.